274 BIOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS 



False Ideas about Snakes. Of all the reptiles, the snakes are 

 the objects of more ignorant superstition and foolish prejudice 

 than any other form. To begin with, snakes are not " slimy " 

 and " nasty." Their skin is as clean as yours and feels cold merely 

 because of their lower bodily temperature. Snakes as a class are 

 absolutely harmless and positively useful. Out of the numerous 

 species inhabiting the United States only the rattler, copperhead, 

 moccasin, harlequin, and coral snakes, are dangerous to handle. 

 Snakes cannot jump from the ground when they strike nor do 

 they spring from a perfect coil. A snake's tongue is not a weapon 

 nor harmful in any way. It is an organ of touch only and is 

 thrust out merely to feel its surroundings. The process of 

 death is slow in any animal with a low nervous organism, and 

 though reflex motions persist in a snake long after death, the 

 setting of the sun has absolutely nothing to do with its death. 

 Snakes do not swallow their young to protect them; " hoop 

 snakes " do not roll like hoops; horsehairs do not turn into 

 snakes; and rattlers do not add one rattle per year, but usually 

 two or three, though some may be broken off. Removal of 

 fangs from a poisonous snake does not render it harmless since 

 other teeth take their place almost at once. Many snakes hiss; 

 some as loudly as a cat. Most snakes can swallow prey larger 

 than themselves. All snakes are muscular, graceful, and usually 

 swift of motion, while many are very beautiful. 

 I " There is no living creature which displays such a beautiful 

 pattern of colors and rainbow iridescence, as the reticulated 

 Python of the East Indies," says Wm. T. Hornaday. 



Children are not born with any natural fear of snakes and 

 adults should never be allowed to terrify their minds with silly 

 snake stories and untrue and ignorant statements. 



Adaptations. Another matter which is little appreciated in 

 regard to snakes, is the fact that there is perhaps no other animal, 

 except the bird, with a more highly specialized structure. 



The whole animal, but particularly the head, is adapted for its 

 peculiar habit of catching and swallowing prey actually larger in 

 diameter than its own body. For this purpose there are numerous 



